Why we love Special Agent in Charge Jethro Gibbs--Lenora Worth

Do you watch NCIS? It's a show on CBS that stars Mark Harmon as Special Agent In Charge Jethro Gibbs. NCIS is the Navy Criminal Investigation Service and Gibbs runs the show. He has a loyal team and director who is always breathing down his neck. Gibbs is the kind of guy you want on your side. He's gone to the ends of the earth to help his team and those he cares about. He's been married several times, but he never talks about his personal life. He has a tormented soul because a bad guy killed his first wife and their daughter. He likes women, but he doesn't like to admit that he's lonely and tormented. He has a definite commitment problem.

But oh, how we love him. He believes in his team and has a special place in his heart for Abby--the girl in the basement who is a computer whiz and can find any evidence to help Gibbs solve the case. Gibbs is the kind of hero that we all want to write about. He skips the fancy events but shows up for the down and dirty fights. He hates publicity but goes after the top dogs and brings them down. Gibbs makes us feel safe in a world that we know is never really safe. And isnt' that what a true hero is all about?

But as I said, Gibbs doesn't like to be in the spotlight. I had written this entire blog and went in search of a picture of Gibbs. My laptop literally locked up and I lost that post. I tried again to download a photo of the handsome, tormented Special Agent on yet another laptop. Again, it locked up and I almost lost this post. Okay, Gibbs, I get it. No photos! I told y'all the man was hard to pin down.

But I love him anyway. What do you love about Gibbs?

Something went terribly wrong--Lenora Worth

My blog is late today. That's because something went terribly wrong. I usually love Tuesdays. Making it to Tuesday means you got through Monday okay. And Tuesday is NCIS day!!! But yesterday, things went wrong for me all day long.

First, I ran some errands to get ready for ACFW. I shop at the drugstore a lot and I buy in volume for my travels. So I went to my local drugstore with my customer card and a coupon fresh off my e-mail. I dropped things in my basket and went to check out. The not so happy to be there clerk rang up my entire basket of stuff but forgot to use the coupon. So she called another clerk over and we had to void the whole thing and start over. (With the other customers glaring at us.) Then my coupon wouldn't work. So the not so happy to be there manager was called out. Other customers are still glaring. I'm glaring, too. The manager scanned my coupon and told me I had an invalid customer card. I had just gotten the card in the mail a few weeks ago! This went on and on for several minutes and then she suggested I was trying to use an invalid coupon. Ugh!!! I got out my old card and told her I was not trying to use an invalid coupon since it had been sent to me that very morning. A few minutes and some strongly worded declarations later, the old card finally accepted the coupon and I headed for the door. Only to set off the beeper alarm! By now I am very frustrated. I go back in and ask the surly manager if I need to let her check my bag. She glares at me, points to the door and says "Go. Just get out of here." So I did just that, with beepers blasting everywhere!

So I decided to write about this experience last night. I wrote this whole blog and hit publish and .... my blog disappeared! I had a meltdown. The next thing I knew, my husband was calling out "What is that awful noise?" That awful noise was me hitting my chair and screaming my frustations to the cat. And people wonder where we get our ideas for suspense books. Hmmm. A frustrated customer, a rude clerk, a coupon and customer card malfunction and a lost blog. I have all sorts of scenarios in my head right now. Have you ever had a day like this? Good thing I can vent my frustrations by writing fiction!